Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peripheral Artery Disease in Elderly Chronic Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Study of a Single Geriatric Hospital

Abstract

Results: Of the 96 patients, 55 (57.3%) had PAD (ABI<0.9) of which 6 patients (6.3%) had severe PAD (ABI<0.5) and 22 patients (22.9%) had bilateral PAD. PAD was more frequently observed in patients with diabetes (65% vs. 15%, p=0.001), hypercholesterolemia (65% vs. 15%, p<0.001), previous history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (25% vs. 5%, p=0.01) and recurrent ischemic stroke (36% vs. 12%, p=0.01). The means of the total cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen were higher in patients with PAD. From the results of the binary logistic regression analysis, presence of diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 4.740; p=0.026), hypercholesterolemia (OR, 18.991; p<0.001), previous history of CAD (OR, 7.579; p=0.038) and lower Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (OR, 0.971; p=0.009) were independent risk factors for PAD. Conclusion: PAD is frequently observed in elderly patients with chronic ischemic stroke. Measuring ABI to diagnose PAD and controlling risk factors may be beneficial in these patients seen at geriatric hospitals and centers.